Neonates exposed to HIV but uninfected exhibit an altered gut microbiota and inflammation associated with impaired breast milk antibody function.

Publication Title

Microbiome

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-20-2024

Keywords

washington; isb

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Infants exposed to HIV but uninfected have altered immune profiles which include heightened systemic inflammation. The mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon is unknown. Here, we investigated differences in neonatal gut bacterial and viral microbiome and associations with inflammatory biomarkers in plasma. Further, we tested whether HIV exposure impacts antibody-microbiota binding in neonatal gut and whether antibodies in breast milk impact the growth of commensal bacteria.

RESULTS: Neonates exposed to HIV but uninfected (nHEU) exhibited altered gut bacteriome and virome compared to unexposed neonates (nHU). In addition, HIV exposure differentially impacted IgA-microbiota binding in neonates. The relative abundance of Blautia spp. in the whole stool or IgA-bound microbiota was positively associated with plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein. Finally, IgA from the breast milk of mothers living with HIV displayed a significantly lower ability to inhibit the growth of Blautia coccoides which was associated with inflammation in nHEU.

CONCLUSION: nHEU exhibits profound alterations in gut bacterial microbiota with a mild impact on the enteric DNA virome. Elevated inflammation in nHEU could be due to a lower capacity of breast milk IgA from mothers living with HIV to limit growth the of gut bacteria associated with inflammation. Video Abstract.

Area of Special Interest

Women & Children

Area of Special Interest

Digestive Health

Specialty/Research Institute

Institute for Systems Biology

Specialty/Research Institute

Gastroenterology

Specialty/Research Institute

Infectious Diseases

DOI

10.1186/s40168-024-01973-z

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